Fourths to franklin c



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet' l.

F. D. TOUCEY.

RQTABAI VALVE.

Patented Dec. 6, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EFICE.

FERRIS D. TOUOEY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FOURTHSTO FRANKLIN O. JOHNSON, OF SAME PLACE.

ROTARY VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming" part of Letters Patent No. 487,687, datedDecember 6, 1892.

Application filed November 7, 1891. Serial No. 411,137. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, FERRIS D. ToUcEY, of Minneapolis, in the county ofHennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain Improvements inRotary Valves, ot' which the following is a specification.

'My invention relates to rotary valves for Corliss engines; and itsobject is to accurately balance such valves, and thereby greatly reducethe power required to operate the same.

To this end my invention consists in a rotary .Valve arranged within acylindrical sleeve or chamber having inlet and outlet ports andconsisting in two rectangular telescoping-sleeves occupying adiametrical position in said chamber and provided with ends or edges totit the same steam-tight. In means for reseating the saine in case theyare forced away from the walls of the cylinder by high steam-pressure orby a vacuum from within the rotary valve itself, and in various detailsof construction and in combination, all as hereinafter described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows asteam-cylinder, partlyin section and provided with valves embodying my invention, the middlepart of the cylinder being broken away in order that the valve may beshown on a large scale. Fig. 2 is an elevation of a cylinder and thesteam-pipe connections thereof. Fig. 8 is a section of one of the rotaryvalves, the section being taken on the line .z z of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is asimilar View ou the line o: @c of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows a valve arrangedwithin a sleeve, adapted to be inserted into the valve-cylinder of anold Oorliss engine, the ports of the same being thusmade to conform tomy valve. Fig. 6 shows one end of this valve in section, as seen fromthe line y y of Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and 8 show two ways of strengthening thevalve.

As shown in the drawings, my valves are arranged in the upper and lowercorners ot` the Oorliss engine -cylindercasting. The sleeves orcylinders 2, 3, 4, and 5 for containing the valves are closed at theends by the plates 6 and 7, the latter being provided with thesmiling-box 8 to preventthe 'escape of steam around the valve-rod 9. Theupper left-hand corner of the cylinder is broken away to show thevalve-cylinder 2, the steamchest 10, and the admission-port 11 leadinginto the steam-cylinder 12, the ends of which are closed by the ordinaryheads 13. The rotary valve is shown in position in this cylinder 2 andis thrown back to open the port 1l. A steam-space 14 is left on eachside of the valve and the steam -pressure is equalized therein throughthe openings 15, leading through the bottom ot' the valve and ofsutcient number and area to allowatree passage of the steam. Theseopenings are also shown clearly in Figs. and 4. \Vithout these openingsthe pressure on the steam-chest side ot ,the valve would spring thevalve, so as to bind the surfaces thereof against the walls of thetransverse cylinder, thereby rendering the movement of the valvedifficult or entirely preventing the two halves of the valve from havingfree telescopic movement occasioned by the compression under the lowerhalf of the valve.

My valve bridges the cylinder and is composed of two parts telescopinginto one another and ordinarily made ot'a single piece, as shown, eachpipe being of a substantiallyrectangular'cross-section. The upper part16 of the valve telescopes into the lower part 17, having theinner'walls 1S, which in turn telescope into the upper part. Intransverse section the lower part of the valve presents the form of -athick cup having a flaring bottom 19 to be thrown across the port 11v(and provided with the deep rectangular groove 20, wherein the springs2l are arranged and into which the lower edges or flanges 22 of theupper part 16 extend. In the longitudinal section, however, it will beseen that this lower part extends the full length of the rotaryvalvecylinder or steam-chest. The ends 24, as shown, are carried out to makenice joints with the inner surfaces ot' the end or head plates 6 and 7.The upper part is provided, also, with the iian ges 22 at its end, thegrooves 20 being extended around in the ends ot the lower part ot` thevalve to receive the same and springs being arranged therein just as onthe sides. The upper part of the valve is IOO iliade strong in any case;but to additionally strengthen the sides of the same against springinginwardly I provide the ribs 25;'extending along the sides thereof, asshown plainly in Figs. l and 5. The inner partis also hollow, theopening passing clear through the same, so that any steam collecting inthis inner chamber of the valve may be exhausted through the small pipe27, the gap 2S in the top of the part 1G of the valve being wide enoughto always leave the end of the pipe 27 open. Another use for this pipeis to reseat the lower part of the valve when from any cause it becomesstuck or cocked in the cylinder, thereby allowing a continuous passageof steam directly from the steam-chest into the cylinder. In such a casethe live steamis let into the cavity of the valve through the pipe 27,and pressure being exerted on the bottom of the recess or chamber 30 inthe lower part the lower part is forced bac-k over the port. The pipeconnections for thus turning on the steam or exhausting the steam areshown in Fig. 2, where it will be seen that the live-steam pipe 3l,extending into the steam-chest, has two branches 32, which are connectedwith the pipes 27, the steamgages 33 and the globe-valves being includedin the pipes 27 and 32, respectively. Hence by opening the valves 34steam isallowed to pass into theinnerchambersofthe rotary valves. Frompoints between the Valves 34 and the rotaryvalve pipes 35 extend down topipes 36, connecting directly with the main exhaust-pipes 37. The pipes36 also have branches 38, connecting with the pipes 27 of the lower orexhaust valves of the Corliss engine. By closing the valves 34 andopening the valves 39 a direct collecting is made with the exhaust,whereby it will be seen that all steam connecting in the rotary valvesis immediately exhausted, thereby leaving the parts thereof to beinfluenced only by the springs and steam-pre'ssure on their exteriorsurfaces. The upper edges of the part 16 are provided with the channels40, thereby making two steam-surfaces instead of one on each edge. Thejoints between the two parts of the valve are made steam-tight by meansof the packing-blades 42, arranged in grooves provided in the edges ofthe lower parts. The upper edges of these blades do not touch theshoulder of the upper part, so that either part is free to move willirespect to the walls of the containing-cylinder. The springs 2l,arranged beneath the edges or lianges of the upper part, or, in otherwords, arranged between the upper and lower parts of the valve, holdeach part well in contact with its seat.

In addition to or taking the place of the spring Isometimes provide theair-ports 43 just above the ends of the upper part, these ports being atall times closed by said surfaces, except when the upper part drops awayeither from lack of steam-pressure or breakage of springs. These portsor openings 43 allow the immediate and constant exhaust of all steamcollecting between the upper ends of the valve and the walls of thecylinder, and as a consequence there is no pressure above the valve toequalize the pressure on the lower edges or cylinders 44. Hence theupper part of the valve is held continuously with its seat. The valve isoperated by the valve-rod 9 engaging the same by means of the key-head45, for which a recess is provided in the forward end of the valve.

The lower or exhaust valves of the engine are of the same constructionas the highpressure valves, with the exception that for each I arrangethe divided port 46, having the two branches 47 and 48, leading into thetwo sides of the valve-cylinder, whereby the pressure of theexhaust-steam upon the valve is perfectly equalized. The sides ofthevalvetop may be srengthened, also, by inside ribs or by stay-bolts, asshown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Where an old Corliss engine is to be fitted with my valves, I insert asleeve 49 into each of the original rotary-valve cylinders, therebysecuring without trouble-or delay proper seats and ports for the valve.

I thus provide valves which elastically engage the walls of thevalve-cylinders and which are practically balanced, so that they may beoperated by the least possible power, thereby saving both the powerotherwise consum ed in the engine, rendering the valve more durable,accomplishing a saving of fuel to a given amount of work done, andgreatly lessening theliability of engines breaking down, and, further,making a saving in lubricants, owing to the lessening of frictionbetween the valves and the seats therefor.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A rotary valve consisting of two main telescopin gparts, one of said parts having an edge adapted to close the port, meansfor oscillating the valve, one of said parts provided with holes orducts l5, wherethrough steam may pass to equalize the pressure upon bothsides of the valve, and means provided for holding both edges of thevalve firmly against the seats provided therefor and for preventing thepassage of steam between said parts, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with an engine-cylin der, of a rotary-valve cylinderor sleeves ar- Iranged therein, a port 11, connecting the two, means forleading the live steam into said valve-cylinder and a rotary valvearranged in said cylinder, means for operating the same, said valveconsisting of telescopin g parts and bein g provided with anormally-closed internal cavity, one of said parts adapted to close saidport 11, means for holding both parts in contact with the walls of saidcylinder, and means for the exhaust or inlet of steam from or to thecavity of said valve, whereby the valve IOC IIO

cylinder provided with a port or ports, of a valve arrangedlongitudinally in the same and diametrically bridging said cylinder,said valve constituted by alower part adapted to cover theadmission-port 'and provided with longitudinal slots or channels,springs arranged in said channels, and an upper part having bearings onthe opposite walls of the cylinder and telescoping into said lower partand elastically forced upon said walls by said springs in said channels,a chamber being arranged within said valve, and means provided forexhausting the leakage steam therefrom or applying steam to force thelower part of the valve upon its seat, and openings through the bottomof said lower part for supplying steam to the back of the valve toequalize the pressure thereon, substantially as described.

4. The engine-cylinder having in its walls transverse valve-cylindersand ad mission and exhaust ports, in combination with a two-part Valvearranged in each valve-cylinder and having a lower part provided withholes 15, extending through from side to side and having the wallsprovided with slots 20, springs arranged in said slots,and an uppertelescoping part engaging said springs and provided withstrengthening-ribs, said valve provided with an internal chamber, and anopening in the upper part extending to the cylinder-wall, means forexhausting steam from said chamber, and means for rotating oroscillating said valve, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a valve-cylinder, of a twopart rotary valvearranged therein, segmental chambers being left on each side of saidvalve when in the cylinder, openings wherethrough the steam passesequally to both sides of the valve, an internal chamber arranged withinsaid two-part valve, a packing being provided between the two partswhereby leakage of steam into said chamber is substantially avoided,while said parts are left independently movable, an opening for theexhaust of steam from said chamber, and an opening or openings 43,arranged in the walls of the cylinder above each end of the Valve andclosed thereby, whereby the pressure thereon is diminished and the valveseated by the force of the steam on its walls, substantially asdescribed.

6. The combination, with a steam-cylinder having the valve-cylinder, ofthe steam-chest inlet thereto and the admission-port leading therefrom,the two-part valve having its parts independently movable and the loweredge of which is adapted to be rotated to close said admission-port, theother end or edge ofthe valve to seat against the opposite wall of thecylinder, and the wall of the cylinder provided with openings or ports43, arranged to be normally covered thereby, and that part of the valvebeing provided with surfaces to receive steam-pressure, whereby saidpart is held in contact with its seat, pressure being thereby relievedfrom the lower or other part of the valve, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a steam-cylinder having the valve-cylinder, ofthe steam-chest inlet thereto and the admission-port leading therefrom,the two-part val ve having its parts independently movable and heldapart by springs arranged between them, packing being arranged toprevent passage of steam between the parts of the valve, one part of theValve provided with transverse holes or ducts for the equalization ofsteam-pressure on the sides of the valve, one edge of the valve adaptedto close over the admission-port, and air or pressure relief openings orports arranged at opposite points in the walls of the cylinder and to beat all times closed by the other part of the valve, substantially as andfor the purpose specied.

8. The combination, in a rotary valve, of the lower part provided withthe grooves or channels 20, springs 21, arrangedin said channels, saidpart provided with openings 15 for the free passage of steam to bothsides of the valve, the upper part having the iiange 22, adapted toengage said spring, packing-blades arranged between the upper and lowerparts, said upper part having the ribs 25, respectively, and an internalopening arranged in the lower part, and the exhaust-pipe 27, connectingwith the internal chamber of the valve, substantially as and for thepurposes specified.

9. The combination, with the cylinder, of valve-cylinders arrangedtherein, two -part valves provided in each cylinder, the two parts ofeach being independently movable, means for holding each part in contactwith the wall of the valve-cylinder adapted to receive the same, and aninternal chamber arranged within each valve, exhaust-pipes 27, connectedwith the main exhaust of the engine-cylinder, valves arranged in saidpipes, and live-steam connections with said pipes 27, said connectionsprovided, also,with valves whereby the chambers of said valves may becompletely exhausted or filled with steam, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day ofNovember, 1891.

FERRIS D. TOUCEY.

f In presence of- C. G. HAWLEY, F. S. LYON.

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